“From waste to resource: accelerating paper sack recycling” is the title of a live webinar conducted by EUROSAC, the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers, and CEPI Eurokraft, the European Association for Producers of Sack Kraft Paper for the Paper Sack Industry and Kraft Paper for the Packaging Industry. Last December participants had the chance to exchange with industry experts and practitioners about the legislative framework for the future or paper sack recycling and pioneering projects in Europe.
Laura Mazzei, FEFCO, provided valuable insights on the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) as legislative framework. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products. The shift of responsibility aims to incentivize producers to consider the environmental impacts of their products throughout the life cycle. EPR is an environmental approach that helps tie a producer’s responsibility to the entire lifecycle of their products, especially for take-back, recycling, and final disposal.
The impact on paper sacks include three aspects: optimize sack design for recyclability reducing or eliminating coatings, adhesives and plastic linings, minimizing these means to avoid higher EPR fees; secondly it is important the cleaning of used paper sacks, removing residual contents to maintain a clean fiber stream for recycling; last but not less important fostering industry collaboration with engage with associations like CEPI Eurokraft and Eurosac, aligning with targets such as the 4evergreen initiative’s goal of 90% fiber-based packaging recycling by 2030.
EPR plays a crucial role in driving innovation in product design to minimize negative environmental impacts. It shifts the focus from consumers to producers, making them accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products. This approach not only reduces waste but also encourages manufacturers to design for longevity and recyclability.
Paper sack recycling in Germany and Spain
Sven Korsten spoke about the well-established Interzero Repasack system. Interzero Repasack has specialized in the take-back and recycling of used paper sacks from trade and industry, mainly in Germany. In Germany, these empty bags can be returned free of charge to around 350 collection points via Interzero’s REPASACK system. After collection, the used paper sacks are sorted by product use and then processed in the recycling plant pf the company. The process generates a high-quality secondary raw material that can then be used again in the paper industry.
Carlos Martinez Ezquerra outlined the Spanish project Paper Sacks Go Circular, a pioneering recycling project, where paper sacks together with other construction waste, are efficiently collected and recycled. Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain is a coalition of companies with a common interest in closing the loop and building a circular economy for paper sacks in Spain. Starting with paper sacks for building materials, the coalition will be looking for synergies with other construction and demolition waste streams in order to build volume and generate economies of scale. This alliance recognizes the importance of collective action throughout the value chain to achieve real impact. Through a shared vision, organizations are collaborating with determination, pooling resources for more significant impact. As such, the coalition includes stakeholders from throughout the value chain: sack producers, sack fillers, construction companies, developers, promotors, waste management operators and recyclers, as well as extended producer responsibility organizations, and the European trade associations EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft. Whilst the initial focus is on paper sacks for building materials, the intention is to roll out the experience to encompass paper sacks from other sectors.
It is clear that a new economy is emerging from the recovery of construction waste, benefiting and incentivizing all parties involved. At the moment over 50 companies and 170 construction sites have joined the initiative: over 600 tons of paper sacks have been collected and recycled, and 2.000 tons of other waste materials have followed a similar circularity path.
